Abstract: An elastomeric belt laying vehicle is disclosed for transmitting greater tractive effort to the earth as compared to comparably powered wheel vehicles and being operable at high speed on improved road surfaces without inflicting damage thereto. A pair of the wheels are arranged on each lateral side of the vehicle's chassis for support thereof. An inextensible, endless belt is highly tensioned throughout its length, is entrained about each pair of wheels, and is frictionally, drivingly coupled to at least one wheel of each pair. The structure of the belt, structure of the wheels and cooperating components thereof ensure engagement therebetween, provides long service with minimum maintenance thereof, and supplies the necessary frictional couple to effectively transmit driving torque from the wheels to the belt.

Abstract: An encapsulated piezoelectric solid state motor stack having a plurality of piezoelectric disks interleaved with a plurality of electrodes. A first elastomer is used for encapsulating the stack to prevent arc-over. A second elastomer is used for encasing the combination of the encapsulating elastomer and the stack. An elastomer grease is sandwiched between the encapsulating elastomer and the encasing elastomer for reducing friction between the combination and the encasing elastomer. The friction is induced by an axial displacement produced between first and second end surfaces of the stack when the electrodes are biased by a source of electrical potential. The structure also includes a protective housing including and a diaphragm. The housing cylindrically encases the combination of the stack, the encapsulating elastomer, the elastomer grease and the encasing elastomer, and the and one end thereof. The diaphragm is attached to the housing for encasing the other end of the combination.

Abstract: A single-piece multiple electrode conductor for a piezoelectric solid state motor stack with piezoelectric disks arranged with a plurality of electrodes. When the electrodes are connected to and biased by a source of electrical potential, an axial displacement is produced between opposite end surfaces of the stack. The single-piece multiple electrode conductor has a spine member for conducting an electrical potential to the piezoelectric disks. Extending from the spine member are a plurality of rib portions which conduct electrical potential to the piezoelectric disks which form the piezoelectric stack.

Abstract: A method of forming a windowed unitary panel having a peripheral edge portion of a windowpane of glazing integrally embedded within a frame of high modulus plastic material includes heating the pane to a preselected temperature prior to its being positioned within a mold. The peripheral edge portion of the windowpane protrudes into the mold cavity so that the high modulus plastic material forming the frame encapsulates the peripheral edge portion. This prevents buckling of the windowpane since the preheated windowpane contracts simultaneously with the contraction of the rigid frame as it cools from the molding temperature to ambient.

Abstract: A heat exchanger baffle plate having a plurality of openings for receiving a plurality of longitudinally-extending tubes, is disposed within a shell and is constructed of a vibration-damping material.

Abstract: A track joint is provided with a controlled running clearance by means of a controlled interstice producing membrane placed between the opposing axial thrust surfaces of the joint. The membrane is of a substance which sacrifically self-destructs upon the initial pivotal movements of the joint. The purpose of the membrane is to relieve the joint of compressive loads which become locked in the joint during its assembly and can cause galling of the thrust surfaces and injury to track seals in the joint.

Abstract: A wheel assembly (10) having self-contained tire mounting and demounting capabilities includes a closed torus tire (18) mountable on a wheel rim (11). The tire (18) is forced onto the wheel rim (11) by a plurality of retainers (25) which are driven into a plurality of mating slots (13) in the wheel rim by bolts (31). Similarly, the tire is forced off of the rim by screwing the bolts through threaded apertures in the retainers and against the wheel rim. Thus, the tire can be demounted from the wheel rim and that tire or another tire can be mounted on the wheel rim without removing the wheel rim from the vehicle.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) having a plurality of longitudinally-extending tubes (16) disposed within a shell (12) includes an elastomeric end plate (18) and means (22) for compresing the elastomeric end plate (18) and expanding the plate in the longitudinal direction and internal vibration-damping baffle plates (28).Conventional metal heat exchangers of brazed construction are prone to cracking and failure. More recently, heat exchangers having an end wall assembly comprising an elastic medium disposed between movable pressure plates has been proposed. Among other problems, the movable pressure plates are required to have clearance holes for the free passage of tubes therethrough and are consequently severely limited to the number and density of tubes that may be accommodated in a heat exchanger of such a design.

Abstract: In many designs, a tire (14) of a wheel (10) is inadequately restrained with respect to a tire supporting rim assembly (12) of the wheel. Movement of the tire (14) with respect to the rim assembly (12) results in a wastage of energy. In the present invention a wheel assembly (10) has a rim assembly (12) and a tire (14) mounted on the rim assembly (12). The rim assembly (12) has an annular elastic element (22) affixed thereto for increasing the coefficient of friction between said rim assembly (12) and the tire (14).

Abstract: Tires are typically inflated through an air conduit mounted on the tire carcass and extending through a hole in the metal rim on which the tire is mounted. Now and then relative slipping between the tire and rim has caused the air conduit to be sheared off, deflating the tire. The present invention overcomes this problem by moving the air conduit (26, 33, 37) completely away from the rim. The air conduit (26, 33, 37) extends from the air chamber (12) through the track wall (10) to the side wall (8) of the carcass (7) and terminates in an air valve receptacle (27) accessible at the side wall (8) of the carcass (7).

Abstract: A method of curing a green rubber tire (40) having a closed interior cavity (42) with two spaced ports (46,48) extending from the interior cavity to the tire exterior. The method includes the step of forming the tire on the porous, disintegratable core (44) and then positioning the tire within a pressure vessel (50). The pressure vessel and the interior cavity and porous core are then filled with a liquid (52) at an elevated temperature which is sufficient to cure the green rubber. The liquid is then circulated at the elevated temperature through the pressure vessel around the exterior of the tire and through the porous core and the interior cavity of the tire.

Abstract: In the formation of an elastomeric tube or the like on a toroidal core, elastomeric material is applied to the core generally along one side of the core, and force-applying means are utilized to press annular portions of the so-deposited elastomeric material onto the core. Cutting means are also included for cutting away elastomeric material not deposited on the core. The core and elastomeric material deposited thereon are then turned over and the operation is repeated, whereby elastomeric tube means or the like are provided on the toroidal core.

Abstract: Hydraulic circuits having flexible hydraulic hoses forming part of the circuits are currently being operated at pressures in excess of 3,000 psi, and such circuits are often limited in their operating pressure by the burst strength of the hydraulic hose. By constructing a hollow core structure that forms the conduit and which serves as the foundation upon which the reinforcing is applied, with a two-layer tape composed of a layer of fabric and a layer of elastomer, which tape is then wound on a mandrel in a helically overlapping relationship with the fabric on the outside, an improved hose can be obtained after the reinforcing is applied. An increase in burst strength can be obtained in such a hose where wire cable is employed as the reinforcing in place of monofilament wire reinforcing, when the cable is formed (twisted) as it is applied, to achieve a more uniform tension on each of the strands forming the cable encircling the core structure.

Abstract: A method of building a closed tube-tire includes constructing a green tire carcass (13) on a disintegratable core (17) and curing the tire carcass (13) in a curing mold (10) having two halves (11,12) which are movable between opened and closed positions. The green tire carcass (13) is intentionally constructed undersized so that a space (18) exists between the green tire carcass (13) and the curing mold (10) to prevent the core (17) from being cracked or crushed when the halves are closed around the tire carcass (13).

Abstract: An elastomeric belt laying vehicle is disclosed for transmitting greater tractive effort to the earth as compared to comparably powered wheel vehicles and being operable at high speed on improved road surfaces without inflicting damage thereto. A pair of the wheels are arranged on each lateral side of the vehicle's chassis for support thereof. An inextensible, endless belt is highly tensioned throughout its length, is entrained about each pair of wheels, and is frictionally, drivingly coupled to at least one wheel of each pair. The structure of the belt, structure of the wheels and cooperating components thereof ensure engagement therebetween, provides long service with minimum maintenance thereof, and supplies the necessary frictional couple to effectively transmit driving torque from the wheels to the belt.

Abstract: An elastomeric belt laying vehicle is disclosed for transmitting greater tractive effort to the earth as compared to comparably powered wheel vehicles and being operable at high speed on improved road surfaces without inflicting damage thereto. A pair of the wheels are arranged on each lateral side of the vehicle's chassis for support thereof. An inextensible, endless belt is highly tensioned throughout its length, is entrained about each pair of wheels, and is frictionally, drivingly coupled to at least one wheel of each pair. The structure of the belt, structure of the wheels and cooperating components thereof ensure engagement therebetween, provides long service with minimum maintenance thereof, and supplies the necessary frictional couple to effectively transmit driving torque from the wheels to the belt.